Ventura trio sentenced to prison for $27 million Ponzi scheme

Defendants ran 'Ad-toppers' Ponzi

Three Ventura residents were sentenced to federal prison on Monday for their roles in a Ponzi scheme that bilked hundreds of investors out of more than $27 million. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said the victims are from all over the United States.

Alan G. Flesher, 65, was ordered to serve more than 17 years in prison for being the leader of the scheme. His brother, Wayne D. Flesher, was sentenced to 72 months in prison and Nancy Carol Khalial, 65, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison.

All three were ordered collectively to pay back more than $27 million in restitution to the victims.

Federal prosecutors said all three defendants admitted that they used Oxnard companies called Unlimited Cash Inc. and Douglas Network Enterprises, Inc. to run the Ponzi scheme. The Flesher brothers and Khalial sold nonexistent ATMs and Ad Toppers and paid later investors with the funds from the earlier investors.

The following is the entire press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office:

Three Involved in Ventura County-Based 'Ad-Toppers' Ponzi Scheme that Cost
Victims over $27 Million Sentenced to Federal Prison Terms
LOS ANGELES - Three Ventura residents were sentenced today to
federal prison - with one defendant being ordered to serve more than 17
years - for their roles in an investment scheme that victimized hundreds of
investors across the United States and caused losses of more than $27
million.
The three defendants - two brothers and woman, all of whom share a
house in Ventura - fraudulently raised money by telling victim-investors
that funds would be used to purchase Ad Toppers, a video device that can be
placed on ATMs or vending machines and used to display advertisements.
The defendants sentenced today were:
* Alan G. Flesher, 65, the leader of the scheme, who was sentenced
to 210 months in federal prison;
* Wayne D. Flesher, 62, Alan's brother, who was sentenced to 72
months in prison; and
* Nancy Carol Khalial, 65, who was sentenced to 48 months in prison.
All three were sentenced by United States District Judge Terry J.
Hatter Jr., who also ordered the defendants collectively to pay $27,377,470
in restitution.
All three defendants pleaded guilty last July to 17 counts of mail
fraud and admitted that they used Oxnard companies called Unlimited Cash,
Inc. (UCI) and Douglas Network Enterprises, Inc. (DNE) to run the Ponzi
scheme. The defendants told victims that UCI would sell ATM machines and "Ad
Toppers" - computer monitors capable of displaying video advertisements -
and DNE would place the devices in commercial locations that would generate
income. Victims were told they would earn income from ATM transaction fees
and advertisement revenue generated by Ad Toppers which would show ads for
companies such as Coca-Cola, Gold's Gym and Paramount Pictures. Even though
the scheme took in approximately $41 million from approximately 790
victim-investors from approximately 2001 to 2005, the defendants did not
place most of the ATMs and Ad Toppers sold to investors.
"In other words, defendants sold nonexistent ATMs and Ad Toppers and
paid the later investors with the funds from the earlier investors,"
prosecutors wrote in court documents filed in relation to today's
sentencings.
The defendants used the majority of investor funds to pay personal
expenses and to continue operating the fraudulent scheme by paying personal
salaries, sales commissions and by making Ponzi-style payments.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI and the United States
Postal Inspection Service, which received assistance from the Securities
Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Pio S. Kim
Major Frauds Section
(213) 894-2589
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah J. Heidel
Major Frauds Section
(213) 894-2451
Release No. 13-072